Families · Melbourne's north

Can kids go bouldering at The Crux?

What is the age and supervision rule?

Six is the minimum age. The supervision depends on how old they are, and the waiver depends on being under 18.

• Under 6: not able to climb here.
• 6 to 15: an adult must supervise them at all times.
• 16 and over: can climb unsupervised.
• Under 18: a parent or guardian must complete the waiver.

Can an experienced young climber be an exception?

Sometimes. Exemptions for competition climbers and experienced youth climbers are handled by email, case by case.

• Send us the detail and we will answer it properly.
• We confirm any exemption in writing, so please wait for our email.

What does supervising actually mean?

An adult over 18 with them on the floor, watching them climb, not sitting in the cafe.

• All climbing here is over padded matting, with no ropes or harnesses.
• There are no top-outs. Every climb finishes on a marked finishing hold.
• The crew run the safety induction on a first visit.

Which climbs do kids start on?

Yellow, then blue. Yellow is the easiest band we set and it is not set with adults in mind any more than children.

• A colour is a band rather than one exact grade.
• Kids tend to find the footwork faster than the adults with them do.
• The multicolour tag hides its grade, which makes it a good one to share.

What do you need to bring?

Comfortable clothes. Climbing shoes and chalk are both available to hire at the counter, in a range of sizes.

• Socks are worth bringing for hire shoes.
• Complete the waiver online before you arrive and you can walk straight in.
• Entry is all-day access, so you can break for food and go back out.